Budget 2023: More support for employing persons with disabilities, ex-offenders

MORE support will be given to companies that employ persons with disabilities (PWDs) and ex-offenders, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Tuesday (Feb 14).

In his Budget speech in Parliament, Wong said the Enabling Employment Credit will be enhanced to cover a larger proportion of wages and a longer duration for PWDs who have not been working for at least six months.

“We know many PWDs want to work; and if given the chance, have valuable skills to offer. As a society, we should give them the opportunity to do so,” Wong said.

The scheme provides employers of PWDs with wage offsets of up to 30 per cent for each Singaporean employee with a disability earning below $4,000 per month.

Separately, the Ministry of Finance will introduce a new scheme to encourage companies to employ ex-offenders. Called the Uplifting Employment Credit, the new scheme will give time-limited wage offsets.

More details on the schemes will be shared by the Ministry of Manpower during the Committee of Supply 2023, and outcomes will be reviewed in 2025.